Classical Music Only | What You're Listening to Now, Or Very Recently | Any Mediums :

[MikeCh]

One more before sleep...some Heifetz - RCA LM2129 - Tschaikowsky Violin Concerto Heifetz / Reiner CSO:

 

[MikeCh]

Some more Heifetz to start the evening....RCA LM-2149

 

[MikeCh]

Michael Rabin - The Magic Bow

 

[MikeCh]

Michael Rabin - The Magic Bow

View attachment 5846

Been a while since I listened to this one. Holy MOLY, Mr. Rabin was a super talent. Such fluidity....the term sinuous defines his playing. Add to this a tenderness and at the same time a tactician with the instrument. Just beautiful.

 

[MikeCh]

Here's an interesting and exceptionally rare Rabin & Pommers....a bit scattered with short segments but sounds great and showcases Rabin's playing. Pommers is equally present with his playing. A super pair.

 

[Bachtoven]

Thought I'd sustain the violin theme here (sort of!)

Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Violin certainly take on a different vibe when played on the guitar. It can clarify the counterpoint and play the chords unbroken, but it can't sustain the slower passages or play with as much legato compared to the violin. Yamashita turns in some very passionate and dramatic performances on these discs. I don't think I've heard any violinists play the Allegro movements in Sonatas as fast as he does, which isn't necessarily a good thing! Still, they are a technical marvel, if lacking some musicality. Excellent SACD sound.

 

[socfan12]

 

[LL21]

Great stuff! Just got this recording this week!

 

[socfan12]

It's a great sounding disc, Lloyd! I really enjoyed it!

 

[MikeCh]

Byron Janis plays Chopin - RCA LM2091:

 

[Bachtoven]

It's amazing what could be accomplished with three mics and one recording session back in 1960.

 

[ILUVAUDIO]

It's amazing what could be accomplished with three mics and one recording session back in 1960.

Amen.....compare that to a picture I saw from a mid 1980's recording session of the Berlin Philharmonic in the Philharmonie....with an absolute forest of microphones hanging over the orchestra.....many thanks, DG, for making some of the most messed with recordings ever made....:bonkers:

Cheers,

 

[MikeCh]

This Gould is a Columbia Masterworks 6-eye WLP:

 

[A.S.]

Anner Bylsma Bach cello suites.

Slowest version ever;
[video=youtube;XL95vwU92qo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=XL95vwU92qo[/video]

 

[A.S.]

The story behind "Devil's Trill" starts with a dream. Tartini allegedly told the French astronomer Jérôme Lalande that he dreamed that The Devil appeared to him and asked to be his servant. At the end of their lessons Tartini handed the devil his violin to test his skill—the devil immediately began to play with such virtuosity that Tartini felt his breath taken away. The complete story is told by Tartini himself in Lalande's Voyage d'un François en Italie (1765 - 66):
"One night, in the year 1713 I dreamed I had made a pact with the devil for my soul. Everything went as I wished: my new servant anticipated my every desire. Among other things, I gave him my violin to see if he could play. How great was my astonishment on hearing a sonata so wonderful and so beautiful, played with such great art and intelligence, as I had never even conceived in my boldest flights of fantasy. I felt enraptured, transported, enchanted: my breath failed me, and - I awoke. I immediately grasped my violin in order to retain, in part at least, the impression of my dream. In vain! The music which I at this time composed is indeed the best that I ever wrote, and I still call it the "Devil's Trill", but the difference between it and that which so moved me is so great that I would have destroyed my instrument and have said farewell to music forever if it had been possible for me to live without the enjoyment it affords me."

 

[Feanor]

Tonight's listening ...

Thomas Adès: Asyla ~ Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 ~ Vasily Petrenko / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

John Tavener: The Protecting Veil, for cello & orchestra ~ Steven Isserlis (cello); Gennadi Rozhdestvensky / London Symphony

 

[Bachtoven]

Handel's Op. 4 Concertos for Organ and strings...transcribed for piano. I think I prefer this piano version--it sounds more incisive. Everyone plays beautifully, and CPO has provided superb SACD audio.

 

[LL21]

Great stuff...thanks. will check it out. Have you heard the handel Organ Concertos by Academy of Ancient Music/Andrew Manze? I really like those in particular,

Handel's Op. 4 Concertos for Organ and strings...transcribed for piano. I think I prefer this piano version--it's sounds more incisive. Everyone plays beautifully, and CPO has provided superb SACD audio.

 

[Bachtoven]

^^ No, but I also have the version by Richard Egarr and Academy of Ancient Music.

 

[Feanor]

This evening a couple of great standards:

Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in A minor, Opus 132 ~ Takacs Quartet

Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Opus 110 ~ Fitzwilliam String Quartet